Multiposition rotary switch assembly with coupling sleeve for segmented rotor

ABSTRACT

A multi-position rotary switch comprising a support structure having a shaped shaft rotatably mounted therein, the shaft being formed with reduced sections to provide shaped portions on opposite sides of each reduced section. A rotor is slideably mounted on at least one of the shaped portions of the shaft and a detent is fixed to another shaped portion of the shaft for cooperating with the support structure to establish multiple angular operating positions for the switch. The rotor travels on a stator to establish electrical connections in the operating positions of the switch. The rotor comprises two substantially identical parts facing one another and a coupling sleeve engages the rotor parts and couples them together in fixed relation. By virtue of the reduced sections of the shaft, the shaped portions can be individually angularly turned by applying force thereto in order to adjust the relative positions of the rotor, stator, pawl, etc.

United States Patent [191 Bednarek et al.

[ MULTIPOSITION ROTARY SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH COUPLING SLEEVE FOR SEGMENTED ROTOR [75] Inventors: Jerzy Bednarek; Waclaw Kosianko,

both of Warszawa, Poland [73] Assignees: Tadeusz Kielak, Warskiego;

Edmund Szymanski, Okinskiego, both of, Poland [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,628

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 2, 1972 Poland 158041 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,031,541 4/1962 Hoffmann 200/11 DA 3,254,165 5/1966 Volkmann 200/14 Rector Allison Jan. 21, 1975 3,469,417 9/1969 Wakelin 64/12 3,531,603 9/1970 Ashman 200/11 J UX 3,761,649 9/1973 Jedynak et al. 200/14 UX [57] ABSTRACT A multi-position rotary switch comprising a support structure having a shaped shaft rotatably mounted therein, the shaft being formed with reduced sections to provide shaped portions on opposite sides of each reduced section. A rotor is slideably mounted on at least one of the shaped portions of the shaft and a detent is fixed to another shaped portion of the shaft for cooperating with the support structure to establish multiple angular operating positions for the switch. The rotor travels on a stator to establish electrical connections in the operating positions of the switch. The rotor comprises two substantially identical parts facing one another and a coupling sleeve engages the rotor parts and couples them together in fixed relation. By virtue of the reduced sections of the shaft, the shaped portions can be individually angularly turned by applying force thereto in order to adjust the relative positions of the rotor, stator, pawl, etc.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 21, 1975 3,862,383

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 21, 1975 3,862,383

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MULTIPOSITION ROTARY SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH COUPLING SLEEVE FOR SEGMENTED ROTOR BACKGROUND a. Field'of the Invention The invention relates to a multi-position rotary switch adapted particularly for electronic or electrical measuring instruments.

b. Prior Art In a multi-position rotary of known type, there are employed a detent, a shaft, rotors, and splints securing the rotors and the shaft of the switch against end motion in relation to the front plate. The shaft of the switch is made in the form of a bar of uniform crosssection over the length between the detent and the rotors. One end of the shaft is cylindrical and is provided with a notch for installing the splint which secures the switch against end motion in relation to the front plate. The detent serves to cooperate with the front plate to establish the multiple operating positions for the switch and the detent consists of a root portion, a spring, and two rollers fixed to the spring. The root portion is made in the form of a sleeve with a flange on one side of the sleeve and the spring is fixed to the flange. The other end of the root portion has a recess in which the shaped part of the switch shaft is installed.

The rotor of the switch is made of an electrically insulative material and it consists of two similar parts in facing relation to each other, one rotor part having a shaped fitting sleeve terminating in a narrowing portion adapted for fixing a splint. This splint secures the other part of the rotor against end motion, the other part of the rotor being fixed on the fitting sleeve of the first part.

The stator is in the form of an assembly plate printed on both sides and the rotor parts act on respective sides of the plate to establish electrical connections on the operating positions of the switch.

The multi-position rotary switch of known type has the following disadvantages:

In order to obtain a properly assembled switch of this type, the angular dimensions between the stators and rotors, between the stators and the detent, and between the detent and the marking means of the switch positions on the front plate must correlate with utmost accuracy. The permissible angular deviations between individual elements of the switching system are inversely proportional to the number of switch positions and to the number of stators. If the number of switches is more than 24 and if there are several stators in the switch, then the angular allowances reach the limit of technological capability for a minimum percentage of rejects. Additionally the switch is difficult to assemble, particularly the fitting of the splint on the shaped sleeve of the rotor as well as the splint securing the switch against end motion in relation to the front plate of the instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multiposition rotary switch which eliminates the deficiencies and imperfections of the switch of known type.

This objective is attained by providing reduced sections in the shaped shaft of the switch to enable individual angular turning of any of the shaped sections of the shaft. Additionally, the two identical parts of the rotor are coupled by means of a coupling sleeve provided with tongues by means of which an accurate relative position of the rotor parts is established. Furthermore, the shaft is secured against end motion in relation to the front plate by means of a washer which is turnable on a reduced section of the shaft.

The multi-position rotary switch according to the invention precludes any angular offset between individual stators and rotors, between the stators and the detent, and between the detent and the marking means on the front plate by separately turning the individual sections of the shaft to correct any angular offset. Moreover, the assembly of the switch, according to the invention is very simple.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an axial section of the switch according to the invention mounted on the front plate of an instrument;

FIG..2 is a section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the coupling sleeve in perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, therein is shown a multiposition rotary switch which comprises a shaft 1, with a plurality of cylindrical sections 2 spaced therealong. The portions of the shaft between sections 2 are rectangular in cross-section and these may be angularly turned relative to one another by applying suitable force thereto. The sections 2 have a circular crosssection which is enscribed in the cross-section of the rectangular shaped portions as evident from FIGS. 2 and 3. Slideably mounted on the rectangularly shaped sections of the shaft are rotors 5, and although two of such rotors have been shown by way of example, it is possible to use one rotor or more than two if desired. The rotors each include two identical segments 25 in facing relation which are coupled together by a coupling sleeve 6. This will be explained in greater detail hereafter.

A pawl 11 is fixed on one of the rectangular shaped sections of shaft 1 and a selecting knob 12 is fixed to the end of shaft 1 and is adapted to indicate the position of the shaft with respect to a suitable marking means placed on the front plate 13 of an instrument, A washer 10 is rotatably mounted on a reduced section 2 of the shaft below the knob 12, the washer having a central opening corresponding to the cross-section of the rectangular parttof shaft 1.

By virtue of forming the shaft 1 as a shaped bar with cylindrical sections 2 therein, these sections 2 enable the individual sections of the shaft to be turned at an angle in relation to each other for eliminating any undesirable angular offset between the elements of the switching system. Additionally, the washer 10 can be locked on its associated section 2 by turning the section of the shaft carrying knob 12 through an angle of with respect to the other rectangular section adjacent this section 2.

The shaft 1 is installed in a hole formed in the front plate of the instrument, and the shaft is secured against axial movement by washer 10.

The pawl 11 comprises a sleeve portion 26 on which is mounted a spring 3 carrying two rollers 4. Adjacent the sleeve portion 26 is a flange 27 against which the spring 3 bears. The spring 3 is fixed to the flange by means of screws 28.

The spring 3 is in the form of an oblong ellipse having crimps 9 at its opposite ends forming receptacles for the shafts of rollers 4. As conventional, the rollers 4 cooperate with fixing members 41 attached to plate 13 which form detents to define the operating positions of the switch. By angularly turning the section of the shaft on which the pawl is secured with respect to the remainder of the shaft, it becomes possible to make minor angular adjustments in the angular position of the pawl with respect to the detents. Hence the pawl 11 and the fixing members 41 constitute a detent means for establishing angular operating positions of the shaft.

Each component part of a rotor 5 is made of an electrically insulative material and it is in the form of a sleeve with at least one projecting arm 29. Slideably mounted in said arm is a contact and a coil spring 31 acts on the contact 30 to resiliently bias the same. The sleeve of part 25 includes a median partition with a rectangular slot through which the shaft passes. Two shaped circumferential through slots 14 are formed in the partition 40 on diameterically opposite sides thereof. The slots 14 serve for fixing the two parts 25 of a rotor 5 by means of a coupling sleeve 6, the parts being fixed by turning them in relation to the sleeve 6. The sleeve 6 is made of an electrically insulative material. A shaped slot 32 is made in the sleeve 6 and extends circumferentially there along for securing of the rotor parts 25 together. For this purpose, the ends of the coupling sleeve 6 are provided with two pairs of hook-like dogs 33 with terminal tongues 37. The pairs of dogs 33 are disposed on opposite sides of the sleeve 6 and pass through slots 14 in partition 40 of respective parts 25. Two radial grooves 8 are formed in the outer surfaces of the partition 40 of each part 25 for receiving tongues 37 on dogs 33 for securing the rotor parts 25 together. The tongues 7 act to fix the relative position of the two parts 25 of rotor 5 after the parts have been installed in a hole of a stator and the parts are coupled together solely by turning them with respect to the coupling sleeve 6. In FIG. 1 are seen a relatively thin stator 15 and a relatively thick stator 15 in superposed relation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art to make numerous modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a support structure, a shaped shaft rotatably mounted in said support structure, said shaft including at least one reduced section providing integral shaped portions on opposite sides of said reduced section, said shaped portions being angularly turnable by forceably turning the same with respect to one another by virtue of said reduced section, at least one rotor slidably mounted on one of said shaped portions of the shaft, detent means fixed to the other of the shaped portions of the shaft and to the support structure to establish multiple angular operating positions for the shaft, and a stator on which the rotor travels, said rotor and stator including contact means to establish electrical connections in said operating positions, said rotor comprising two substantially identical parts facing one another and a coupling sleeve engaging the rotor parts and including means coupling said rotor parts together in angular and axially fixed relation.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means coupling the rotor parts together includes means on said sleeve and means on said rotor parts which enable the rotor parts to be coupled together by relative angular movement of said sleeve with respect to said rotor 7 parts.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft has a rectangular cross'section and the reduced section has a circular cross-section.

4. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein each rotor part comprises a sleeve member with a median partition receiving said shaft, said partition having opposed circumferential through slots, said coupling sleeve being engaged within the sleeve members of the two rotor parts and including means extending through said slots for fixedly coupling said rotor parts together.

5. A switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein said partition of each rotor part is provided with a radial groove which is engaged by said means on the coupling sleeve when said rotor parts are coupled together by said coupling sleeve.

6. A switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means on the coupling sleeve comprises a hook member with a tongue engagable in each said radial groove.

7. A switch as claimed in claim 6 wherein two of said radial grooves are provided in each portion extending from the hole in said partition in opposite directions, two of said hook members being provided for each rotor part, the tongue of each hook member engaging in a respective groove.

8. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein each rotor part includes a projecting arm with contact means supported therein.

9. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second of said reduced sectors is provided in said shaft to form a third, shaped portion, and an indicator knob secured on said third shaped portion.

10. A switch as claimed in claim 9 comprising a washer turnably mounted on the second of the reduced sections and cooperating with the support structure to maintain an axial end position for the shaft. 

1. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a support structure, a shaped shaft rotatably mounted in said support structure, said shaft including at least one reduced section providing integral shaped portions on opposite sides of said reduced section, said shaped portions being angularly turnable by forceably turning the same with respect to one another by virtue of said reduced section, at least one rotor slidably mounted on one of said shaped portions of the shaft, detent means fixed to the other of the shaped portions of the shaft and to the support structure to establish multiple angular operating positions for the shaft, and a stator on which the rotor travels, said rotor and stator including contact means to establish electrical connections in said operating positions, said rotor comprising two substantially identical parts facing one another and a coupling sleeve engaging the rotor parts and including means coupling saiD rotor parts together in angular and axially fixed relation.
 2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means coupling the rotor parts together includes means on said sleeve and means on said rotor parts which enable the rotor parts to be coupled together by relative angular movement of said sleeve with respect to said rotor parts.
 3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft has a rectangular cross-section and the reduced section has a circular cross-section.
 4. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein each rotor part comprises a sleeve member with a median partition receiving said shaft, said partition having opposed circumferential through slots, said coupling sleeve being engaged within the sleeve members of the two rotor parts and including means extending through said slots for fixedly coupling said rotor parts together.
 5. A switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein said partition of each rotor part is provided with a radial groove which is engaged by said means on the coupling sleeve when said rotor parts are coupled together by said coupling sleeve.
 6. A switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means on the coupling sleeve comprises a hook member with a tongue engagable in each said radial groove.
 7. A switch as claimed in claim 6 wherein two of said radial grooves are provided in each portion extending from the hole in said partition in opposite directions, two of said hook members being provided for each rotor part, the tongue of each hook member engaging in a respective groove.
 8. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein each rotor part includes a projecting arm with contact means supported therein.
 9. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second of said reduced sectors is provided in said shaft to form a third, shaped portion, and an indicator knob secured on said third shaped portion.
 10. A switch as claimed in claim 9 comprising a washer turnably mounted on the second of the reduced sections and cooperating with the support structure to maintain an axial end position for the shaft. 